Process for breaking petroleum emulsions



Patented July 18, 1

PROCESS FOR BREAKING PETROLEUM EMULSIONS Melvin De Groote, University City, and Bernhard Keiser, Webster Groves, Mo., assignors to Petrolite Corporation, Ltd, Wilmington, DeL, a

corporation of Delaware No Drawing. Application June 15, 1842, Serial No. 447,153

7 Claims.

' constitutes the continuous phase of the emulsion.

Another object is to provide an economical and rapid process for separating emulsions which have been prepared under controlled conditions from mineral oil, such as crude petroleum and relatively soft waters or weak brines. Controlled emulsification and subsequent demulsification under the conditions just mentioned is of significant value in removing impurities, particularly inorganic salts, from pipeline oil.

We have discovered that if one oxyalkylates glycerol so as to introduce at least three oxyalkylene radicals for each hydroxyl group, and if the product so obtained is reacted with a polybasic carboxy acid having not over eight carbon atoms, and in such a manner as to yield a fractional ester, due to the presence of at least one free carboxyl radical, one can then esterify said, acidic material or intermediate product with at least one mole of an alcoholic compound of the type herein described to give a variety of new compositions of matter which are efficient demulsifiers for crude oil emulsions.

The compounds used as the demulsifier in our herein described process may be produced in any suitable manner, but are usually manufactured by following one of two general procedures. In one of said procedures the oxyalkylated glycerol, which is, in essence, a polyhydric alcohol, is reacted with a polybasic acid so as to give an acidic material or intermediate product, which, in turn, is reacted with an alcoholic body of the kind hereinafter described, and momentarily indicated by the formula R1(OH)m. Generically, the alcoholic body herein contemplated may be considered a member of the class in which m"may vary from 1 to 10, although the specific significance of m in the present instance will be hereinafter indicated. The second procedure is to react an alcohol of the formula type R1(OH)m with a polybasic acid, so as to produce an intermediate product, and then react said intermediate product or fractional ester with the selected oxyalkylated glycerol.

Glycerol may be conveniently indicated by the following formula:

CsHt-OH If treated with an oiryalkylating agent and mo- 7 mentarily consideration will be limited to an oxyethylating agent, one may obtain an oxyethylated glycerol of the following formula type:

(cimown C3H508(C2H|O)n'H (C2Hi0)n'H in which the value of n may vary from 3 to 10 and all the values of 11' need not be identical. If a polybasic carboxy acid be indicated by the formula:

coon

COOH

then the acyclic reaction product of one mole of oxyethylated glycerol and one mole of a polybasic carboxy acid maybe indicated by the following formula:

(c,Hi0).'0ooR(co01-1),.-

CaHaOa-(CzH4O),uH

(CzHrOLuH in which n" has the value of one or two. Similarly, if two moles of the polybasic acid be used, then the compound may be indicated by the following formula:

(oimowooomcoonnw oimoa-(onnon oocmc0011 Likewise, if three moles of a polybasic acid are employed, the compound may be indicated by the following formula:

If a fractional ester of the kind exemplified by the three preceding formulas is reacted with one or more moles of an alcohol of the kind previously described in a generic sense as R1(OH)m" then obviously, one may obtain a material of the type indicated by the following formula:

inwhichiciso,1,or2,z/is0,1or2,andzis 1,2 or 3, and :c' is 0 or 1, and y is 1 or 2.

It has been previously stated that compounds of the type herein contemplated may be obtained by oxyalkylating agents, without being limited to ethylene oxide, Suitable oxyalkylating agents include ethylene oxide, oxide and glycid, which, although not included, strictly speaking, by the unitary structure Cal 1211.0, is included within the meaning of the hereto appended claims and may be simply conmoonlit] z in which n replaces the numbers 2, 3 or 4, Z includes the acidic hydrogen itself. In the above formula, and hereafter, for convenience, R1 is intended to include any hydroxyl groups that remain.

If the compounds herein contemplated are obtained under usual conditions, at the lowest temperatures, then the monomeric form is most likely to result.

The production of the compounds herein contemplated is the result of one or more esterification steps. As is well known, esterification procedures can be carried out in various manners, but generally speaking, esterifications can be carried out at the lowest feasible temperatures by using one of several procedures. One procedure is to pass an inert dried gas through the mass to be esterified, and have present at the same time a small amount of a catalyst, such as dried HCl gas, a dried sulfonic acid, or the like. Another and better procedure, in many instances, is to employ the vapors of a suitable liquid, so as to remove any water formed and condense both the vapors of the liquid employed and the water in such a manner propylene oxide, butylene common in the arts concerned with materials of this .type, it is so adopted here. Thus, reference in the appended claims to polymers is intended to include the self-esterification products of the monomeric compounds.

In view of what has been said, and in view of the recognized hydrophile properties of the recur-- ring oxyalkylene linkages, particularly the oxyethylene linkage, it is apparent that the materials herein contemplated may vary from compounds which are clearly water-soluble through selfemulsifying oils, to materials which are balsamlike and sub-resinous or semi-resinous in nature. The compounds may vary from monomers to polymers, in which the unitary structure appears a number of times, for instance, 10 or 12 times.

, It is to be noted that true resins, i. e., truly insoluble materials of "a hard plastic nature, are not herein included. In other words, the polymerized compounds are soluble to a fairly definite extent, for instance, at least 5% in some solvents, such as water, alcohol, benzene, dichloroethyl ether, acetone, cresylic acid, acetic acid, ethyl acetate, dioxane, or the like. This is simply another way of stating that the polymerized product contemplated must be of the sub-resinous type, which is commonly referred to as an A resin, or a B resin,

as distinguished from a C resin, which is a highly infusible, insoluble resin (see Ellis, Chemistry of Synthetic Resins (1935), pages 862, et seq.).

Reviewing the form as presented, it is, obvious that one may obtain compounds within the scope disclosed, which contain neither a free hydroxyl as to trap out the water and return the liquid to the reacting vessel. This procedure is commonly employed in the arts, and for convenience, reference is made to U. S. Patent No. 2,264,759, dated December 2, 1941, to Paul C. Jones.

Referring again to the last two formulas indicating the compounds under consideration, it can i be readily understood that-such compounds, in numerous instances, have the property of polyfunctionality, In view of this fact, where there is at least one residual carboxyl and at least one residual hydroxyl, one would expect that under suitable conditions, instead of obtaining the monomeric compounds indicated, one would in reality obtain a polymer in "the sense, for example, that polyethylene glycols represent a polymer of ethylene glycol. The term polymer is frequently used to indicate the polymerized product derived froma monomer in which the polymer has the same identical composition as the monomer. In the present instance, however, polymerization involves the splitting and loss of water so that the process is essentially self-esterification. Thus,

strictly speaking, the polymeric compounds are not absolutely isomers of the monomeric comnor, a free carboxyl group, and one may also obtain a compound of the type in which there is present at least one free carboxyl, or at least, one free hydroxyl, or both. The word polar has sometimes been used in the arts in this particular sense to indicate the presence of at least one free hydroxyl group, or at least, one free carboxyl group, or both. In the case of the freecarboxyl group, the carboxylic hydrogen atom may, of course, be replaced by any ionizable hydrogen atom equivalent, such, for example, as a metal, an ammonium radical, a substituted ammonium radical, etc. In the hereto appended claims the word polar is used in this specific sense.

We are aware that compounds similar to those contemplated in the present instance may be derived from polyhydroxylated compounds having more than three hydroxyl groups. For instance, they may be derivedirom acyclic diglycerol, triglycerol, tetraglycerol, mixed polyelycerols, mannitol, sorbitol, various hexitols, dulcitol, pentaerythritol, sorbitan, mannitan, diphenta erythritol monoether, and other similar compounds. Such particular types in which higher hydroxylated materials are subjected to oxyalkylation and then employed in the same manner as oxyalkylated glycerol, is employed in the present instance, are not contemplated in this specific case, although attention is directed to the same.

Reference is also made to other oxyalkylated compounds which may be used as reactants to replace oxyalkylated glycerol. or oxyalkylated ethylene glycol, which latter reactant is described in a co-pending application hereinafter referred to. The reactants thus contemplated include the type in which there is an amino or amido nitrogen atom, particularly, when present in a low molal type of compound prior to oxyalkylation, reference being made to polyhydroxylated materials, including those having two or three hydroxyl groups, as well as those having more than three hydroxyl groups. For instance, the oxyalkylated derivatives, particularly the oxyethylated derivatives of ethyldiethanolamine, ibis- (hydroxyethyDacetamide, the acetamide of tris- (hydroxymethyl)aminomethane, tetrahydroxylated ethylene diamine, etc. Compounds may also be derived from cyclic diglycerol and the like.

oxrarmaran GLYCEROL Example 1 184 pounds of glycerol is mixed with V by weight, of caustic soda solution having a specific gravity of 1.383. The caustic soda acts as a cata- 'lyst. The ethylene oxide is added in relatively small amounts, for instance, about 44 pounds at a time. The temperature employed is from 150-180 C. Generally speaking, the gauge pressure during the operation approximates 200 pounds'at the maximum, and when reaction is complete, drops to zero, due to complete absorption of the ethylene oxide. When all the ethylene dues, whereas, in the present instance, one, two, H

or three; or more, might be introduced.

As indicated previously, the polybasic acids employed are limited to the type having not more than 8 carbon atoms, for example, oxalic, ma-

lonic, succinic, glutaric, -adipic, maleic, and phthalic. Similarly, one may employ acids such as fumaric, glutaconic, and various others, such as citric, malic, tartaric, and the like. The se lection of the particular tribasic acid employed, is usually concerned largely with the convenience of manufacture of the finished ester, and also the price of the reactants. Generally speaking, phthalic acid or anhydride tends to produce resinous materials, and greater care must be employed if the ultimate or final product be of a subresinous type. Specifically, the preferred type of .polybasic acid is such as to contain six carbon atoms or less. Generally speaking, the higher the temperature employed, the easier it is to obtain large yields of esterified product, although polymerization may be simulated. Oxalic acid may be comparatively cheap, but it decomposes readily at slightly above the boiling point of water. For this reason it is more desirable to use an acid which is more resistant to pyrolysis. Similarly, when a polybasic acid is available in the form of an anhydride, such anhydride is apt to produce the ester with greater ease than the acid itself. For this reason, maleic anhydride is particularly adaptable, and also, everything else considered, the cost is comparatively low on a per molar basis, even though somewhat higher on a per pound basis. Succinic acid or the anhydride has many attractive qualities of maleic anhydride, and this is also true of adtpic acid.,

For purposes of brevity, the bulk of the examples, hereinafter illustrated, will refer to the use of maleic anhydride, although it is understood that any other suitable polybasic acid may be employed. Furthermore, reference is made to derivatives obtained by oxyethylation, although, as previously pointed out, other oxyalkylating agents may be employed.

As far as the range of oxyethylated glycerols employed as reactants is concerned, it is our preference to employ those in which approximately to 24 oxyethylene groups have been introduced into a single glycerol molecule. This means that approzdmately five to eight oxyethyle ene radicals have been introduced for each original hydroxyl group.

Tl'ie oxyalkylation of glycerol is a well known procedure (see Example 11 of German Patent No. 605,973, dated Nove'mber 22, 1934, to I. G. Farbenindustrie Akt. Ges.) The procedure indicated in the following three examples is substantially identical with that outlined in said aforementioned German patent. 1

oxide has been absorbed and the reactants cooled, a second small portion, for instance, 44 more pounds of ethylene oxide, are added and the procedure repeated until the desired ratio of 15 pound moles of ethylene oxide to one pound mole of glycerol is obtained. -This represents 660 poulnds of ethylene oxide for 92 pounds of glycero.

Oxramrmran GLYCEROL Example 2 The ratio of ethylene oxide is increased to 18 pound moles for each pound mole of glycerol. Otherwise, the same procedure is followed as in Example 1, preceding.

OXYETHYLATED GLYCEROL Example 3 The same procedure is followed as in the two previous examples, except that the ratio of ethylene oxide to glycerol is increased to 21 to one.

OXYETHYLATED GLYCEROL MALEATE Example 1 with constant stirring, so as to yield a mono-- maleate.

Oxrrrnxuran GtYcEnor. MALEATE Example 2 Q The same procedure is followed as in the preceding example, except that two moles of maleic anhydride are employed so as toobtain the dimaleate instead of the monomaleate.

Oxxzrrfxmrsn GLYCEROL MALEATE Example 3 The same procedure is followed as in the two preceding examples, except that three moles of maleic anhydrlde are employed so as to obtain the trimaleate.

Oxxsmurrn GLYcsaoL MAI-HATE Example 4 qxnrmnan Gtrcraor. Manes-rs J Example 5 The same procedure is employed as in the preceding examples. except that oxyethylated gly'cerol (ratio 1 to 21) is employed instead of oxyethylated glycerol (ratio 1 to 15) ,or (1 to 18).

per "the" following alcohols: Decyl, .dode'cyl, tetradecyl, octadecyl, cetyl, oleyl, cholesterol, glycols of high molecular weight of the Previous reference has been made to an alcoholic body which has been defined generically by ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, glycid, etc., un-

tained by reduction of the corresponding fatty acids or esters thereof. The reaction in its briefest form may be indicated as follows:

R.COOH in the above instance may represent any detergent-forming acid, i. e., any of a number of monocarboxy acids having more than'19 and not over 32 carbon atoms, and characterized by the fact that they combine with alkalies such as caustic soda, caustic potash, ammonia, triethanolamine, and the like, to produce soap or soap-like materials. The 'best examples are, of course, the higher fatty acids, such as oleic acid, stearic acid, palr'nitic acid, etc. In addition to the higher fatty acids, other well known members include resinic acids, abietic acids, naphthenic acids, and acids obtained by the oxidation of petroleum hydrocarbons and coinmonly referred to as oxidized wax acids. Generally speaking, the higher fatty acids are apt to contain from 12-14 carbon atoms as a lower limit, and from 1822 carbon atoms as an upper limit. Oxidized waxes may contain as man as 32 carbon atoms. These Various acids, when unsaturated, may be totally or partially hydrogenated and then converted. into the corresponding alcohol.

The commonest use of high molal alcohols has been their conversion into sulfates or sulfonates. As 'to patents which specially enumerate high molal alcohols applicable for use as reactants in the manufacture of the present compound, see

the following: U. S. Patent No. 2,110,848, dated March 8, 1938, De Groote; 2,181,172, Oct. 4, 1932, Daimler et al.; 1,916,776, July 4, 1938, Steindorff et al.; 2,106,242., Jan. 25, 1938, De Groote et al.; 2,106,243, Jan. 25, 1938, DeGroote et al.; 2,110,847, Mar. 8, 1938, De Groote; 2,000,994, May 14, 1935, Schrauth; 2,061,617, Nov. 24, 1936, Downing et 7 al.; 2,061,618, Nov. 24, 1936, Downing et al.; 2,061,-

619, Nov. 24, 1936, Downing et al.; 2,061,620, Nov.

Schrauth et al.; 2,187,338, Jan. 16, 1940, Werntz;

' 2,187,339, Jan. 16, '1940, Werntz; 1,917,255, July 11, 1933, Harris; 2,170,380, Aug. 22, 1939, Holsten;

and. 1,966,187, July 10, 1934, Schirm.

hols occurring naturally in waxes in combinedform, may be employed.

A s' specific examples, mention may be made undecyl,

type exemplified by octadecane diol, octalmethyl glycol, decamethyl glycol, and also alkyl, cycloalkyl, aralkyl, or aryl ethers of the different 24, 1936, Downing et al.; 2,171,117, Aug. 29, 1939,

polyhydric alcohols, such as, for example, the cresylic, phenylic, benzylic, cyclohexylic, or naphthylic ethers or glycol or glycerol. Similarly, derivatives of diphenyl, such as hydroxy diphenyl, and the hydroaromatic homologues, are suitable.

It is well-known that high molal alcohols can be treated with an' oxyalkylating agent, such as der pressure, in the presence of an alkaline catalyst, to produce a water-soluble product, due to the presence of the recurring oxyethylene group. However, incipient oxyalkylation, etc., treatment of a high molal alcohol with one, two, three or four moles of ethylene oxide, still leaves the resultant water-insoluble. alcohols, usually ether alcohols, may be employed in the same manner as other alcohols previously described,

COMPLETED MONOMERIC DERIVATIVE Example 1 One pound mole of a product of the kind described under the heading Oxyethylated glycerol maleate, Example 1 is reacted with one pound mole of decylalcohol, preferably in the absence of any high boiling hydrocarbon or inert solvent. However, if an inert vaporizing solvent is employed, it is generally necessary to use one which has a higher boiling range than xylene. and sometimes removal of such solvent might present a difliculty. In other instances, however, such high boiling inert vaporizing solvent, if employed, might be permitted to remain in the reacted mass and appear as a constituent or ingredient of the final product. In-any event, our preference is to conduct the reaction in the absence of any such solvent and permit the reaction to produce with the elimination of water. The temperature of reaction is about 180 to 200 C- and time of reaction about 20 hours.

COMPLETED .MONOMERIC DERIVATIVE Example 2 The same procedure is followed as in Completed ple 2 is used instead of the monomaleate.

COMPLETED MONOMERIC DERIVATIVE Example 3 The same procedure is followed as in the two preceding examples, except that the trimaleate is substituted for the monomaleate or dimaleatein the two preceding examples.

COMPLETED MONOMERIC DERIVATIVE ExampleA The same procedure is followed as in Examp1es,2 and 3, immediately preceding, except that for each pound mole of the dimaleate, or each pound mol of the trimaleate, instead of using one pound mole of decyl alcohol as a reactant. one employs two pound moles.

COMPLETED MONOMERIC DERIVATIVE Example 5 p The same procedure is followed as in Example 3, preceding, except that for each pound mole of tnmaleate, instead of adding one pound mole pound moles of decyl alcohol for reaction.

Such water-insoluble aeaaece COMPLETED MONOMERIC DERIVATIVE Example 6 COMPLETED MoNoMEnIc DERIVATIVE Example 7 The same procedure is followed as in Example 6, immediately preceding, except that the oxyethylated glycerol employed represents one having an even higher degree of oxyethylation. For example, one indicated by the ratio of l to 21. (See Oxyethylated glycerol maleate, Example 5, preceding.)

COMPLETED MONOMERIC DERIVATIVE Example 8 Tetradecyl alcohol is substituted for decyl ala cohol in Examples 1 to 7, immediately preceding. CoMrLErED MONOMERIC DERIVATIVE Example 9 Octadecyl alcohol is substituted for decyl alcohol in Examples 1 to '7, immediately preceding.

COMPLETED MONOMERIC DERIVATIVE Example 10 An unsaturated alcohol, oleyl alcohol (octadecylenic alcohol) is substituted for decyl alcohol in Examples 1 to 7, immediately preceding.

COMPLETED MONOMERIC DERIVATIVE Example 11 A polyhydric high molal alcohol such as ricinoleyl alcohol is substituted for decyl alcohol in Examples 1 to 7, immediately preceding.

The method of producing such fractional esters is well known. The general procedure is to employ a temperature above the boiling point of water and below the pyrolytic point ofthe reactants. The products are mixed and stirred constantly during the heating and esterification step. If desired, an inert gas, such as dried nitrogen or dried carbon dioxide, may be passed through the mixture. Sometimes it is desirable to add an esterification catalyst, such as sulfuric acid, benzene sulfonic acid, or the like. This is the same general procedure as employed in the manufacture of ethylene glycol dihydrogen diphthalate. (See U. S. Patent No. 2,075,107, dated March 30, 1937, to Frasier.)

Sometimes esterification is conducted most readily in the presence of an inert solvent, that carries away the water of esteriflcation which may be formed, although as is readily appreciated, such water of esterification is absent when such type of reaction involves an acid anhydride, such as maleic anhydride, and a glycol. However, if water is formed, for instance, when citric acid is employed, then a solvent such as xylene may be present and employed to carry off the water formed. The mixture of xylene vapors and water vapors can be condensed so that the water is separated. The xylene is then returned to the reaction vessel for further circulation. This is a conventional and well-known procedure and requires no further elaboration.

In the previous monomeric examples there is a definite tendency, in spite of precautions, at least in a number of instances, to obtain polymeric materials and certain cogeneric by-products. This is typical, of course, of organic reactions of this kind, and as is well known, organic reactions per .se are characterized by the fact that 100% yields are the exception, rather than the rule, and that significant yields are satisfactory, especially in those instances where the by-products or cogeners may satisfactorily serve with the same purpose as the principal or intentional product. This is true in the present instance. In many cases when the compound is manufactured for purposes of demulsiiication, one is better off to obtain a polymer in the sense previously described, particularly a polymer whose molecular weight is a rather small multiple of the molecular weight of the monomer, for instance, a polymer whosemolecular weight is two, three, four, five, or six times the molecular weight of the monomer. Polymerization is hastened by the presence of an alkali, and thus in instances where it is necessary to have a maximum yield of the monomer, it may be necessary to take suchprecautions that the alkali used in promoting oxyethylation of glycerol, be removed before subsequent reaction. This, of course, can be done in any simple manner by conversion to sodium chloride, sodium sulfate, or any suitable procedure.

1n the preceding examples of the Completed monomeric derivative, Examples 1 to 11, inclusive, no reference is made to the elimination of such alkaline catalyst, in View of the effectiveness of the low multiple polymers as demulsifiers. Previous reference has been made to the fact that the carboxylic hydrogen atom might be variously replaced by substituents including organic radicals, for instance, the radicals obtained from alcohols, hydroxylated amines, non-hydroxylated amines. polyhydric alcohols, etc. Obviously, the reverse is also true, in that a free hydroxyl group may be esterified with a selected acid, varying from such materials as ricinoleic acid to oleic acid, including alcohol acids, such as hydroxy acetic acid, lactic acid, ricinoleic acid and also polybasic acids of the kind herein contemplated.

With the above facts in mind, it becomes obvious that what has been previously said as to polymerization, with the suggestions that by-products or cogeneric materials were formed, may be recapitulated with greater definiteness, and one can readily appreciate that the formation of heat- .rearranged derivatives or compounds .must take place to a greater or lesser degree. Thus, the

,' products herein contemplated may be characterized .by being monomers of the type previously described, or esterification polymers, or the heatrearranged derivatives of the same, and thus in cluding the heat-rearranged derivatives of both the polymers and esterlflcation monomers, separately and Jointly. Although the class of materials specifically contemplated in this instance is a comparativelysmall and narrow class of a broad genus, yet it is obviously impossible to present any adequate formula which would contemplate the present series in their complete ramification, except in a manner employed in the hereto appended claims.

Although the products herein contemplated vary so broadly in their characteristics, 1. e.,

' monomers through sub-resinous polymers, soluble products, water-emulsifiable oils or compounds, hydrotropic materials, balsams. sub-resinous mathere is always present the characteristic unitary hydrophile structure related back to the oxyalkylation, particularly the oxyethylation of the glycerol used as the raw material. indicated, in practising'our process, the demulsifier may be added to the emulsion at the ratio of 1 part in 10,000, one part in 20,000, 1- part in 30,000, or for that matter,1 part in 40,000. In such ratios it Well may be that one can not differentiate between the solubility of a compound coinpletely soluble in water in any ratio, and a semiresinous product apparently insoluble-in water in ratios by which ordinary insoluble materials are characterized. However, at such ratios the importance must reside in interfacial position and the ability to usurp, preempt, or replace the interfacial position previously occupied perhaps by the emulsifying colloid. In any event, reviewed in this light, the obvious common property running through the entire series, notwithstanding varia- -tion in molecular size and physical make-up, is

Such statement is an obviabsolutely apparent. ous oversimplification of the rationale underlying demulsification, and-does not evenconsider the resistance of an interracial film to crumbling, displacement, being 'forced into solution, altered wetability and the like. As to amidification polymers, for instance, where Z is a polyaminoamide radical, see what is said subsequently.

COMPLETED POLYMERIC DERIVATIVES INCLUDING HEAT-REARRANGED COGENERS Example 1 COMPLETED POLYMERIC DERIVATIVES INCLUDING HEAT-REARRANGED COGENERS Example 2 The same procedure is followed as in th'e preceding example, exceptthat polymerization is continued, using either a somewhat longer reac-. tion time, or it may be a somewhathigher temperature, or both, so as to obtain a material having a molecular weight of approximately three to four 7 times that of the initial product.

COMPLETED POLYMERIC DERIVATIVES INCLUDING HEA'r-REA zaANcED COGENERS Example 3 The same procedure is followed as in Examples 1 and 2, preceding, except that one employs as a.

reactant, instead of ricinoleyl alcohol, the product obtained by treating such alcohol with ethylene oxide in the proportion of two moles of ethylene oxide for each mole of alcohol.

COMPLETED POLYMERIC DERIVATIVES INCLUDING HEAT-REARRANGED COGENERS Example 4 The same procedure is followed as in Examples 1 to 3, preceding, except that one polymerizes a mixtu 2'". instead of a single monomer, for instance,

As hereinafter terials, semi-resinous materials, and the like, yet

a mixture of materials of the kind described in Completed monomeric derivative, Example 3, and in Completed monomeric derivative, Example 4, are mixed in molecular proportion and subjected topolymerization in the manner indicated in the previous examples.

It is understood, of course, that the polymerized product need not be obtained as a result of a two-step procedure. In other words, one need not convert the reactants into the monomer and then subsequently convert the monomer into the polymer. The reactants may be converted through the monomer to the polymer in one step. Indeed, the formation of the monomer and polymerization may take place simultaneously. This is especially true if polymerizationis conducted in the absence of a liquid such as xylene, as previously described, and if one uses a comparatively higher temperature, for instance, approximately 200" C. for polymerization. Thus, one pound mole of oxyethylated glycerol maleateof the kind described, ratio 1 to 15, up to 1 to 21, is mixed with two moles of ricinoleyl alcohol and reacted for 20 hours at approximately 200 C., until the mass is homogeneous. It is stirred 0on stantly duringreaction. Polyfunctionality may reside'in dehydration (etherization) of two hydroxyl groups attached to dissimilar molecules.

The fact that the polymerized and heat-rearranged products can be made in a single step,

.illustrates a-phenomenon which sometimes occurs either in such instances where alcoholic bodies of the kind herein illustrated are contemplated as reactants, or where somewhat kindred alcoholic bodies are employed. The reactants may bemixed mechanically to give a homogeneous mixture, or if the reactants do not mix togive a homogeneous mixture, then early in the reaction stage there is formed, to a greater or lesser degree, sufficient monomeric materials so that a homo-' geneous system is present. Subsequently, as reaction continues, the system may become heterogeneous and exist in two distinct phases, one being possibly an oily body of moderate viscosity, and the other being a heavier material, which is sticky or sub-resinous in nature. In many instances, it will be found that the thinner liquid material is a monomer and the more viscous or resinous material is a polymer, as previously described. Such product can be used for demulsification by adding a solvent which will mutually dissolve the two materials, or else, by separating the two heterogeneous phases and employing each as if it were a separate product of reaction.

Conventional demulsifying agents employed in the treatment of oil field emulsions areused as such, or after dilution with any suitable solvent, such as water; petroleum hydrocarbons, such-as gasoline, kerosene, stov oil, a coal tar product such as benzene, toluene, xylene, tar acid oil, cresol, anthracene oil, etc. Alcohols, particularly aliphatic alcohols, such as methyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, denatured-alcohol, propyl alcohol, butyl alcohol, hexyl alcohol, octyl alcohol, etc., may be employed as diluents. Miscellaneous solvents, such as pine on, carbon tetrachloride, sulfur dioxide extract obtained in the refining of petroleum, etc., may be employed as diluents. Similarly, the material or materials herein described, may be admixed with one or more of the solvents customarily used in connection with conventional demulsifying agents, provided that such compounds-are compatible. They will be compatible with the hydrophile, type of solvent in all instances. Moreover, said material or materials assasce may be used alone, or in admixture with other suitable well known classes of demuls'ifying agents.

It is well known that conventional demulsifying agents may be used in a water-soluble form, or in an oil-soluble form, or in a form exhibiting both oil and water-solubility. Sometimes they may be used in a form which exhibits relatively limited oil-solubility. However, since such reagents are sometimes used in a ratio of 1 to 10,000, or 1 to 20,000, or even 1 to 30,000, such an apparent insolubility in oil and water is not significant, because said reagents undoubtedly have solubility within the concentration employed. This same fact is true in regard to the material or materials herein described, except water-soluble. a

We desire to point out that the superiority of the reagent or demulsifying agent contemplated in our herein described process for breaking petroleum emulsions, is based upon its ability to treat certain emulsions more advantageously and at a somewhat lower cost than is possible with other available demulsifiers, or conventional mixtures th ereof. It is believed that the particular demulsifying agent or treating agent herein described will find comparatively limited application, so far as the majority of oil field emulsions are concerned; but we have found that such a demulsifying agent has commercial value, as it will economically break or resolve oil field emulsions in a number of cases which cannot be treated as easily or at so low a cost with the demulsifying agents heretofore available.

In practising our improved process for resolving petroleum emulsions of the water-in-oil type, a treating agent or demulsifying agent of the kind above described is brought into contact with or caused to act upon the emulsion to' be treated, in any of the various ways, or by any of the various apparatus now generally used to resolve or break petroleum emulsions with a chemical reagent, the above procedure being used either alone, or in combination with other demulsifying procedure, such as the electrical dehydration process.

The demulsifier herein contemplated may be employed in connection with what is commonly known as down-the-hole procedure, i. e., bring-- ing the demulsifier in contact with the fluids of the well at the bottom of the well, or at some point prior to their emergence. This particular type of application is decidedly feasible when the demulsifier is used in connection with acidification of calcareous oil-bearing strata, especially if suspended in or dissolved in the acid employed for acidification.

Cognizance must be taken of the fact that the surface of the reacting vessel may increase or decrease reaction rate and degree of polymerization, for instance, an iron reaction vessel, speeds up reaction and polymerization, compared with a glass-lined vessel.'

As has been previously indicated, the subgenus employed as an alcohol in the present instance is one of a series of alcoholic compounds which are contemplated in our co-pending applications Serial Nos. 447,151; 447,152; 447,154; 447,155; 447,156; 447,157; 447,158; 447,159; 447,- 160; 447,161; 447,162; 447,163; 447,164; 447,165; 447,166; 447,167 and 447,168, all filed June 15,

Having thus described our invention, ,what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

that they are invariably l. A process for breaking petroleum emulsions of the water-in-oil type, characterized by subjecting the emulsion to the action of a demulsiiler comprising a member of the class consisting of monomers, sub-resinous esterification polymers, and cogeneric sub-resinous heat-rearranged derivatives of the monomers and aforementioned polymers, separately and jointly, and of the following formula:

ucnnmomoocmooozn z (o00z (CnHBnO)n'OOCR (cooRm' z in which R is the carboxyl-free radical of a polybasic carboxy acid having not over 8 carbon atoms; R1 is a water-insoluble high molal alcohol radical having at least 10 carbon atoms and not more than 32 carbon atoms; Z is an acidic hydrogen atom equivalent including the acidic hydrogen atom itself; n represents the numeral 2 to 4; n represents the numerals 3 to 10; n" represents the numerals 1 to 2; :1: represents the numerals 0 to 2; 11 represents the numerals 0 to 2; z represents the numerals l to 3; at represents the numerals 0 to 1; and 11 represents the numerals 1 to 2.

2. A process for breaking petroleum emulsions of the water-in-oil type, characterized by subjecting the emulsion to the action of a demulsifier comprising a member of the class consisting of monomers, sub-resinous esterification polymers, and cogeneric sub-resinous heat-rearranged derivatives of the monomers and aforementioned polymers, separately and jointly, and of the following formula:

in which R is a carboxyl-free radical of a dibasic carboxy acid having not over 6 carbon atoms; R1 is a water-insoluble high molal alcohol radical having at least 10 carbon atoms and not more than 32 carbon atoms; Z is an acidic hydrogen atom equivalent including the acidic hydrogen atom itself; n represents the numerals 2 to 4: n represents the numerals 3 to 10; 2: represents the numerals 0 to 2; 11 represents the numerals 0 to 2; and 2 represents the numerals 3. A process for breaking petroleum emulsions of the water-in-oil type, characterized by subjecting the emulsion to the action of a demulsifier comprising a member of the class consisting of monomers, sub-resinous esterification polymers, and cogeneric sub-resinous heat-rearranged derivatives of the monomers and aforementioned polymers, separately and jointly and of the following formula:

[(CaHcOLvO O C BC 0 OZ],

CaHgOr-[(C:H40)#H] [(CsHaO) "O OCRCOORd.

in which R is a carboxyl-free radical of a dibasic carboxy acid having not over 6 carbon atoms; R1 is a water-insoluble high molal alcohol radical having at least 10 carbon atoms and not more than 32 carbon atoms; Z is an acidic hydrogen atom equivalent including the acidic hydrogen atom itself; n represents the numerals 3 to 10; :0 represents the numerals 0 ranged derivatives of the monomers and afore mentioned polymers, separately and jointly, and

of the following formula:

uotrnon oo c acoozl,

C3Ht 8 2HI )n ]r t o,1:-no)..'0ocnooom].

in whichR is a carboxyl-free radical of a dibasic carboxy acid having not over 6 carbon atoms; R1 is a water-insoluble high molal alcohol radical having at least 10 carbon atoms and not more than 32 carbon atoms; Z is an acidic hydrogen atom equivalent including the acidic hydrogen atom itself; n represents the numerals 3 to 10; :1: represents the numerals to 2; 11 represents the numerals 0 to 2; and 2 represents the numerals 1 to 3.

5. A process for breaking petroleum emulsions of the water-in-oil type, characterized by subjecting the emulsion to the action of a demulsifler comprising a polar acidic member of the class consisting of monomers, sub-resinous esterification polymers, and cogeneric sub-resinous heat-rearranged derivatives of the monomers and aforementioned polymers, separately and jointly, and of the following formula:

(clmowoocncooz CEHOS [(CIHIO) ME]. I

[(c,H.o ..'oooRoooB,

in which R is a carboxylfree radical of a dibasic carboxy acid having not over 6 carbon atoms; R1 is a water-insoluble high molal alcohol radical having at least carbon atoms and not more than 32 carbon atoms; Z is an acidic hydrogen atom equivalent including the acidic hydrogen atom itself; n represents the numerals 3 to 10; :1: represents the numerals 0 to 2; y represents the numerals (Ho 2; and 2 represents the numerals 1 to 3.

6. A process for breaking petroleum emulsions of the water-in-oil'type, characterized bysubiectingthe emulsion to the action of a demulsifler comprising a polar acidic member of the class consisting of monomers, sub-resinous esterification polymers, and cogeneric sub-resinous heat-rearranged derivatives of the monomers and aforementioned polymers, separately and jointly, and of the following formula:

in which R is a carboxyl-free radical of a dibasic carboxy acid having not over 6 carbon atoms; R1 is a water-insoluble high molal alcohol radical .having at least 10 carbon atoms and not more than 18 carbon atoms; Z is an acidic hydrogen atom equivalent including the acidic hy-' in which R is a carboxyl-free radicalof a dibasic carboxy acid having not over 6 carbon atoms;

R11 is an unsaturated high molal alcohol radical having at least 10 carbon atoms and not more than 18 carbon atoms; Z is an acidic hydrogen atom equivalent including the acidic-hydrogen atom itself; 12. represents the numerals 3 to 10; :2: represents the numerals 0 to 2; y represents the numerals 0 to 2; and 2 represents the numerals 1 to 3.

MELVIN DE GROOTE.

BERNHARD KEISER. 

